Summary of NO CORNERS WERE CUT ON THIS ARDUINO CIRCLE CUTTER
[Gadget Reboot] built a dual stepper motor controller to cut perfect circles from square stickers, avoiding manual trimming. The project features an Arduino Pro Micro, OLED display, rotary encoder, and low-cost optical endstops for safety. It demonstrates how stepper motors can be programmed for precise CNC tasks using custom software.
Parts used in the Arduino Circle Cutter:
- Square stickers
- Dual stepper motor controller
- Arduino Pro Micro
- OLED display
- Rotary encoder
- Low-cost optical endstops
- Razor blade
Hackers always have their eye out for a good deal, so when [Gadget Reboot] saw a good price on square stickers he had to pull the trigger. There was just one problem: his logo is a circle. He could have rectified the problem with a pair of scissors on a lazy afternoon, but we think building an elaborate circle cutting machine was a much better use of his time.
But this project isn’t just for the Giotto wannabes. Even if you don’t find yourself in need of an infinite supply of perfect paper circles, the video after the break provides an excellent case study in getting stepper motors to do your bidding; whatever that might be. [Gadget Reboot] walks the viewer through the design and construction of a dual stepper motor controller that could be used for a multitude of tasks.
With an onboard Arduino Pro Micro, OLED display, and rotary encoder, this controller just needs some custom software to make your CNC dreams come true. [Gadget Reboot] is even using low-cost optical endstops in this build, which are a great non-contact way of making sure your machine doesn’t go out of bounds. That’s particularly important when the machine happens to be wielding a razor blade.
If you’re a thoroughly modern hardware hacker who prefers using a web browser to twiddling knobs, then perhaps you’d be interested in the WiFi enabled stepper motor controller we covered recently.
Source: NO CORNERS WERE CUT ON THIS ARDUINO CIRCLE CUTTER
- Why did [Gadget Reboot] build a circle cutting machine?
To cut perfect circles from square stickers without using scissors manually. - What microcontroller is used in the controller?
An onboard Arduino Pro Micro is used to run the system. - How does the machine prevent going out of bounds?
It uses low-cost optical endstops as a non-contact safety method. - What input devices are included on the controller?
The design includes an OLED display and a rotary encoder. - Can this controller be used for other tasks?
Yes, it can be used for a multitude of tasks with custom software. - What tool does the machine wield during operation?
The machine wields a razor blade to cut the material. - Is there an alternative WiFi enabled option mentioned?
Yes, a WiFi enabled stepper motor controller was covered recently as an alternative.
